Peter Katsis, the venerable music manager who guided the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Morrissey, and Audioslave among a host of others, died Thursday from congestive heart failure complications at the age of 69.
Katsis started out his music business career in the 1980s in his hometown of Chicago where he took on his first band, the industrial rock group Ministry. After moving to Los Angeles in the 1990s, his reputation only grew, taking on groups like The Cramps and Jane’s Addiction before he shepherded leaders of nu-metal Korn and Limp Bizkit. The variety of musicians and acts he worked with made him stand out, putting on his roster pop groups like Backstreet Boys at the height of their popularity and Snoop Dogg as his fame grew beyond hip-hop radio. He also managed One Direction, Liz Phair and 311 along with many more. In 2008, he cofounded management firm Prospect Park.
Tributes to Katsis poured in after news of his death. Billy Corgan wrote in a social media post that Katsis was like family. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman said he was “heartbroken” about the music manager’s death.
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“I’ll always cherish his intense candor and deep love of great music; which was infectious,” Corgan said. “And he deserves immense credit for helping to usher in the alternative revolution of the (80s and 90s) and beyond. He was truly one of a kind. One of us. And Chicago royalty through and through.”
Ministry also saluted Katsis on social media, saying they hope that his “next journey be as prodigious as this one.”
Heartbroken that Pete is gone. He meant a lot to Chloe and I as a dear friend and extended member of our family. He will be missed and I’ll always cherish his intense candor and deep love of great music; which was infectious. And he deserves immense credit for helping to usher in… pic.twitter.com/9xbonDY23u
— William Patrick Corgan (@Billy) August 6, 2026